Frances S. Mancz 1912 - 2013 CHICOPEE - Frances S. (Kaspar) Kurth Mancz, age 100, of Chicopee and a former longtime resident of Akron, Ohio was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. She passed into Eternal Life at Birch Manor in Chicopee surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving daughter, Carol, her loving son-in-law, John and her wonderful caregivers. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 1, 1912, the only child of the late Josef and Anna (Brandstetter) Kaspar. Her family moved to Akron, Ohio in 1916 where she graduated from South High School and Hammel Actual College. She worked for 17 years as a secretary and payroll clerk at Etling Weather-Seal Company in Barberton, OH and later worked for Dr. Carl B. Kroeger, a prominent allergy specialist in Akron, OH as his office manager until 1982 when she retired at the age of 70. She then volunteered at the Red Cross for 10 years until the age of 80. She enjoyed working, staying active and socializing with people. Frances was an active member of several clubs including the Akron Liedertafel where she was in the women's chorus, the Sons of Herman, the German-American Club, the Akron chapter of AARP and the Daughters of Penelope in Chicopee, MA. She enjoyed polka music and loved to shake a leg on the dance floor. She had a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh. She was an eternal optimist, always happy and smiling, always offering words of encouragement and understanding to others. She was a gem. Besides her parents, she was also predeceased by her first husband, Walter Kurth in 1941; her second husband, John Mancz in 1983; her only son, Walter Kurth in 2011; and her dear friend and companion, Julius Grau in 2008. She is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Carol and John Marnelakis of Chicopee; two grandsons; and one great-grandson. Her family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the outstanding staff at the Birch Manor Nursing Home and the New England Hospice for their compassionate and skilled care. They would also like to extend their thanks to Marie Janczewski, who was her companion and caregiver, for her love and support during this long goodbye. Her funeral will be held on Saturday morning, May 18, 2013 beginning at the St. Pierre - Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, (funeral home will open at 9 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her Committal Service and burial will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery, 100 East Waterloo Road, Akron, OH 44319. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, May 17, 2013 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Frances' memory to either the Birch Manor Activity Fund, 44 New Lombard Road, Chicopee, MA 01020 or to New England Hospice, 190 Old Derby Road, Hingham, MA 02043. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com